Auburn
Ole Miss
AUBURN, Ala. (06/05/2026) — The Ole Miss Rebels used a three-run eighth inning to rally past the Auburn Tigers 5-3 Friday night at Plainsman Park in front of 10,635 fans.
Ole Miss (SEC) trailed 2-0 after four innings before mounting a comeback highlighted by back-to-back home runs in the eighth to stun the Tigers on their home field.
How It Happened
Auburn struck first in the bottom of the fourth. After Chris Rembert drew a walk and Ethin Bingaman singled, Bub Terrell delivered the big blow with a single to right field. Rembert scored on the play, and Bingaman raced home as Terrell advanced to second on the throw, giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
That advantage held until the sixth, when Ole Miss broke through against the Auburn bullpen. Brayden Randle reached with a single and Dom Decker drew a walk to set the table for Judd Utermark. The Rebel designated hitter roped a double to deep right center, scoring both Randle and Decker to tie the game at 2-2.
The score remained deadlocked into the eighth inning, when Utermark once again found himself in the middle of the action. He reached base and advanced to second on a passed ball, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position.
Turning Point
With Utermark on second and momentum shifting toward the visitors, Will Furniss stepped to the plate and delivered the decisive swing. The Ole Miss slugger launched a two-run home run to right field, scoring Utermark and giving the Rebels their first lead of the night at 4-2.
Ole Miss wasn't finished. On the very next pitch after Furniss circled the bases, Tristan Bissetta turned on a delivery and crushed a solo home run to right field. The back-to-back blasts transformed a tie game into a commanding 5-2 Rebels advantage in the span of two at-bats.
Auburn attempted to rally in the ninth. Terrell singled to start the frame and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of T. Belza, but that was as close as the Tigers would get. Ole Miss closed the door to secure the 5-3 victory.
Star of the Game
Judd Utermark was the engine behind the Ole Miss offense. The designated hitter went 1-for-2 at the plate with a run scored, two runs batted in, and a pair of walks. His two-run double in the sixth erased Auburn's early lead, and his baserunning in the eighth — advancing to second on a passed ball — set the stage for Furniss' go-ahead homer.
Furniss delivered the knockout blow with his two-run shot, finishing 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Bissetta added his solo home run and reached base twice. On the mound, Taylor Rabe turned in a strong start for the Rebels, working seven innings while allowing two runs on six hits and striking out eight. Walker Hooks closed it out with the final three outs.
For Auburn, Terrell paced the offense with a 2-for-4 night that included a run scored and an RBI. Bingaman also collected two hits and scored a run. Starting pitcher Alex Petrovic kept the Tigers in the game with 5.1 innings of three-hit ball, allowing two runs while striking out five.
What It Means
The back-to-back eighth-inning home runs turned what had been a tightly contested game into a statement win for Ole Miss. The Rebels showed resilience after falling behind early, and their late-inning power display underscored the offensive firepower they possess.
Auburn will look back at the middle innings as a missed opportunity. The Tigers chased Ole Miss' starter after seven innings but managed only two runs, then watched the bullpen surrender three runs across the seventh and eighth frames. The loss stings even more coming at Plainsman Park, where Auburn had positioned itself to protect an early lead before the Rebel bats came alive.
Both teams will return to action this weekend as SEC play continues, with Ole Miss looking to build on the momentum of a road comeback and Auburn aiming to bounce back and even the series.
